Work Text:
Suho grabbed the smaller boy’s wrist. “Hey, please stop running,” he muttered as the boy flinched at the touch. Suho had lost his memory after being in a coma for two years, but he kept seeing the shorter boy on the street. His heart somehow longed to be near him, as if they were connected. “I don’t know who you are,” the boy said, trying to pull his arm from Suho's grasp. “I’m sorry,” Suho said, letting the boy go; he hadn’t realized how this would seem if he and the boy actually had no connection in his past life. As soon as he let him go, the boy ran, never meeting his eyes. Suho sighed, looking at the red watch that sat on his wrist, another thing from a life he couldn’t recall. The time read 5:26; he knew he should get home, or his grandmom would be worried. He took a step only to be greeted by a throbbing pain in his head. There were a lot of things still affecting him from his coma. No one even told him how it happened; apparently his grandmother was told he passed out while working out. Though it didn't seem likely a perfectly healthy boy would pass out while working out. His migraine worsened at these thoughts. ‘Ok, I just need to calm down,’ Suho thought to himself. He tried to sit down but inevitably fell, passing out on a random road.
“Should we take him to the hospital?” was the first thing Suho heard when he awoke, his body waking before his eyes were able to open. Suho noted that his headache had gone down. “No, you idiot,” another voice rang out. Two teenage boys, by the sound of it, Suho noted, probably no older than him. What. Why did he do that? These people clearly meant no harm. Suho opened his eyes, and a too-close face twisted in surprise. “What the…” The man said, scrambling back. “Humin-ah, get off of me,” another boy said. Suho turned his head to see that the boy who had been close to him had landed on his friend's lap. “Sorry, Gogo,” The boy who seemed to be named Humin said. “Hey, are you ok” The bigger boy asked, getting up. “Yeah, thanks,” Suho responded, sitting up and taking in his surroundings. A big room. Suho lay across a bed in the left corner; the walls were adorned with pictures of the two boys that sat in front of him. Suho noted he probably could take the one called Gogo if it came to that. He wasn’t too sure if he could take Humin, especially in his weakened state. His thoughts were interrupted when he laid eyes on a picture of four boys. The two that sat in front of him and two others. The thing that stuck out to him was one of the other boys' eyes. Suho was at a lack of words.
They were like melted dark chocolate pouring into Suho's heart. No light danced across them, but the way they held a quiet shine. They were slightly damp, as if the boy were about to cry. He was looking up through thick lashes, and Suho swore he recognized those eyes. He couldn’t remember an exact moment, but he swore he felt this exact way before; he swore he longed to drown in this boy's eyes. The almost black hue was so deep. ‘Beautiful,’ Suho thought to himself.
“Hello?” Humin spoke loudly. “Is he gonna pass out?” he continued, his tone full of worry. “Who’s that?” Suho asked, pointing at the picture of the boy with the mesmerizing eyes. Humin followed his eye line. “Oh, that's us and our friends,” Humin said. “Who is that one, though?” Suho asked. “Oh, him? That’s Juntae,” Humin said. “Why?” Suho sighed; the name Juntae didn’t bring forth any memories of his past. “No reason. Could I maybe meet him?” Suho asked. “Sure, man,” Humin replied. “Anyways, if you’re good now, you can go,” Gogo said. “Lemme get your number so we can hang out sometime,” Humin said, a smile plastered on his face. “I’m Baku, and that’s Gotak,” Humin said. “Baku ok” Suho noted. “I’m Suho,” he continued, pulling out his phone and handing it to the other boy. He typed his number in, his smile unwavering. His friend, Gotak, stood to the side with an irritated look on his face.
“Ok, do you need anything?” Baku asked as he led Suho to the door. Suho shook his head. “Sorry about Gogo,” Baku said. "He doesn’t trust people that easily; he’ll come around.” He continued, opening the door for Suho. “Ok, bye,” Baku said, with a small wave. Suho walked home, his head filled with thoughts of the boy's eyes. He got to his front door and pulled his keys out; they hit against each other as he searched for the one that was for his front door. He struggled to remember things recently; he sighed and just decided to try all of them. The door opened from the inside; his grandmother greeted him. A look of distress was woven through her eyebrows, drawing them together. “Suho,” She said, her voice cracking on the second syllable. “Hey, I’m sorry,” Suho said. “It was nothing. I just made some new friends; I’m ok” Suho said. Though it was weird, he’d never passed out before. No point in worrying his grandmother since he was fine now. “You made friends?” His grandmother asked, a smile spreading across her face.
After a long conversation with his grandmother—who insisted on knowing every detail from his day—he went upstairs and showered. He lay in bed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. His dream started normally; he was running as he often would in dreams. It didn’t take long for Suho to realize he was running from something this time. He wanted to stop, but his legs carried him without even thinking. He touched the side of his head; something warm and sticky dripped down his face. He looked at his hand and saw the red blood spewed across it. He must be running from whatever did that to him, Suho thought. He tried to look over his shoulder to see who it was; maybe this is connected to what happened to him. The thoughts flooded his head. He forced his dream self to listen to him, turning his head and looking over his shoulder. The floor was falling inwards, his legs stopped moving, and with that he fell into an abyss.
Suho awoke, lying there for a minute. He noted his headache had come back. He got up, pulling himself to the bathroom, his legs heavy. He turned the shower water on and stepped in, allowing the warm water to roll down his skin. ‘Dreams don’t mean anything,’ he tried to tell himself as his mind tried to connect dots, fueling his migraine. He showered and stood under the water till it went cold. Suho got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around his waist, walking to his room. He dried off and changed. Suho was greeted by his grandma as he exited his room. “Suho, are you gonna eat?” She asked, her tone laced with concern that she was attempting not to show. “I’m gonna go eat out with my friends,” Suho said, struggling to pull his shoes on. His grandmother rushed over, trying to bend over to help him. “I got it, halmeoni,” Suho said, finally getting them on properly. “Thank you. I love you, and I’ll see you when I get back.” Suho rushed, kissing her forehead and heading out the door.
It’d only be a matter of time till he had to start school. He was getting a tutor since the school district didn't wish to punish him for the coma he couldn’t control. He was technically two years behind, but his tutor was planned to meet with him and catch him up. This would occur every day, even on weekends. He groaned just thinking about it, though it was better than being in a class with people two years under him. He pulled out his phone and texted Baku. ‘Hey you busy?’ he texted. ‘Nah’ Baku responded quickly. ‘Can I meet this guy now?' Suho asked. “Yeah, come over to Gogo's house,” Baku replied. “Ok,” Suho answered. He started walking towards Gotak’s house, only to realize 30 minutes later that he couldn’t remember where it was. He texted Baku, ‘Hey, send me the address’. Baku sent him the address quickly.
Suho arrived 15 minutes later and rang the doorbell. Gotak opened the door and sighed when he saw Suho standing there. “Come in,” Gotak said, moving out of the doorway, giving Suho room to get in. “Juntae’s almost here; you can wait in my room with Baku.” Suho nodded and walked to Gotak's room as Gotak turned to the room that appeared to be the kitchen. Suho opened a door. “What are you doing?” Gotak asked, “If you forgot where my room was, just say that.” Suho bowed slightly to express his apologies. “Just follow me,” Gotak snapped. Gotak led him down a hallway to a blue door. “Here,” Gotak gestured to the door. ‘Blue door,’ Suho noted. “Thanks,” Suho said, twisting the doorknob.
Baku lay on the bed, phone in hand. “Hey,” Suho said, raising his hand in a sort of half-wave. Baku waved as well, a smile forming on his face. ‘Why is he always so happy?’ Suho asked himself. “Hi,” Baku replied, scooting over slightly to make room for Suho next to him. “Is that not where Gotak is going to sit?” Suho asked. “Nah,” Baku said, tapping the bed. Suho walked over and fell onto the bed beside Baku. “Juntae’s gonna be here shortly,” Baku stated before returning to his TikToks. “Oh, ok,” Suho replied, pulling out his phone. Gotak entered the room with three bowls of Gyeran Bap—steamed rice topped with a fried egg. Suho's stomach growled as the scent filled the room. Baku burst out laughing at the sound.
Gotak handed Suho a bowl and put one on the nightstand beside the bed, before laying himself on Baku. “Mhmpf, argh, yu gahs tuhgehther?” Suho asked, shoveling food into his mouth. “Mmm-nph,” Baku said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Oh,” Suho said, swallowing the bite he had in his mouth. He was about to continue but was cut off by the doorbell ringing. “Must be Juntae,” Baku said, trying to sit up, forgetting about the boy lying on his chest. “What the he-” Gotak said before steadying himself. “Bro, I’m gonna hurt you,” Gotak said, dusting himself off. His efforts were ignored since Baku had already run to answer the door. “That idiot,” Gotak sighed, his words angry but his tone anything but. A smirk formed at his lips, but he quickly wiped it from his face when he saw Suhos's questioning look. “Actually, both of our friends are coming over today,” Gotak stated, obviously trying to change the topic. “Which is good because Sieun never comes over,” Gotak stated more to himself than to Suho.
That name, Sieun, Suho's heart ached in a way he couldn't explain. The name sparked Suho's memory but kept it just out of reach; he couldn't remember how he knew the boy, but he remembered feeling. Was Past Suho in love with the other boy he questioned? Or maybe it was just him hoping, grasping at any straw he could. Desperate to be connected to his past life, but the name sat in the air. Heavy. Suho looked at the door and in walked a boy with eyes that looked better in person, if that was even possible. Suho stared, and all of a sudden memories flooded in. Jokes, Sayings, Names, but no faces. The boy saw him staring and averted his gaze.
Just like that, it was as if all the files and all the memories he was looking through in his eyes were locked. He needed to look into the boy's eyes again, to find the key to every feeling he felt in his past life. He had to remember; he wanted to remember what happened to him, but the shorter boy had stripped that away. He got out of bed and walked over in two long strides, grabbing the boy's shoulders. “Look at me,” he mumbled. “Suho-ya,” he said, his eyes staring at the floor. Suho swears he saw a tear fall down the boy's cheek. “You know me?” Suho asked the boy. The shorter boy nodded; it was almost unnoticeable, but the nod was there.
The boy looked up; his eyes locked with Suho's. Everything flooded back in the truth about what happened, how someone he called his friend paid someone to nearly kill him. How Sieun stayed by his side through it all. Not only that, but how the boy with the eyes of deep chocolate was not Juntae but was none other than Sieun. His best friend, the boy he had fallen in love with. The boy who was able to bring his memories back just by looking at him. His body would always fight to remember, if not himself, or the world; his body would fight to remember his universe, his home, his heart, all of which were Sieun.
He grabbed Sieun's waist and pulled him into a hug, bending down to bury his head in Sieun's hair. “Sieunnie,” Suho whispered. For the first time, Sieun cried in front of him. Suho hugged him tighter, hoping it would hold the broken pieces of Sieun together. “I missed you,” Sieun sobbed into Suho's shirt, and with that the tears tore from Suho’s eyes and poured into Sieun’s hair. “I get the feeling he wasn’t looking for Juntae,” Baku stated. “Shut up,” Gotak said, burying his head farther into Baku’s chest. Suho laughed, pulling away from the hug. “So, you made friends,” Suho stated with a smile splayed across his face. “I did,” Sieun responded, the tears still flowing from his eyes. Suho tilted Sieun’s head up, connecting their eyes. He swiped his thumb across Sieun’s cheek, wiping the tear away. Sieun shifted his weight to his toes before putting his arms around Suho’s neck and forcing him to lean down slightly.
However, Suho was the one to close the distance between their lips. The kiss was soft and slow; it lasted for maybe 4 seconds before Sieun broke off, blushing profusely. He turned away from his friends. “Awhhh,” Juntae exclaimed. Gotak fake-gagged, while Baku wiped away nonexistent tears. “Baby Sieun is growing up,” Baku said. “His first kiss,” He continued with an exaggerated frown. “Shut up,” Sieun growled. “That was your first kiss?” Suho exclaimed, causing Sieun’s cheeks to darken a shade. “Wait, lemme try again,” Suho said, grabbing Sieun’s waist so they were face to face. “What, wh-” Sieun was cut off by Suho’s lips connecting with his own. Suho picked him up. To stabilize himself, Sieun wrapped his legs around Suho’s waist. Suho deepened the kiss, holding the back of Sieun’s neck tightly. Suho broke the kiss and kissed Sieun’s newly bruised lips lightly. “I love you,” Suho said. “I love you, Suho-ya,” Sieun responded.